A leading civil servant is to take over as chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise.

Owen Kelly, above, currently director of communications at the Scottish Government, starts his new job with the body, which lobbies on behalf of the Scottish financial industry, on January 14. The 44-year-old has spent his entire working life in the civil service but has filled a broad range of roles.

During his career he has worked on several controversial pieces of policy including the poll tax and reform of the legal profession.

Between 1990 and 1992 he was private secretary to Scottish Office Minister Lord James Douglas-Hamilton then fulfilled the same role for First Minister Jack McConnell from 2003 to 2005.

In May this year he became director of communications at the Scottish Government.

He said: "I am really pleased to have this opportunity to work with one of Scotland's most successful and dynamic industries.

"With its strong membership base, SFE has been very successful in influencing and lobbying decision makers across Europe in recent years."